Undergraduate Research Posters

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  Combination Therapies of Guadecitabine and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Murine Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Model

  Jamie-Jean Gilmer

  Combination Therapies of Guadecitabine and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Murine Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Model

  Jamie-Jean Gilmer, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  Triple-negative breast cancer (negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER-2) currently carries a poor prognosis, and new treatment regimens are highly sought after. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a next-generation DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, guadecitabine, alone and in combination with other agents for treating the murine E0771 medullary breast adenocarcinoma model. In vitro, we combined guadecitabine with trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, and observed suppressed E0771 tumor cell growth and a marked increase in MHC class I and PD-L1 expression. In vivo, we combined guadecitabine with immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, and the taxane, paclitaxel. Treatment with guadecitabine, paclitaxel, and anti-PD-1/L1 demonstrated effective inhibition of tumor growth, and treatment with guadecitabine, paclitaxel, and anti-PD-1 produced a moderate cure rate. Additionally, we investigated the effect of early vs delayed treatment in vivo with guadecitabine, especially when combined with anti-PD-1. We found that early treatment using guadecitabine showed significant initial tumor suppression in vivo, but tumor growth recovered soon after treatment ceased. Lastly, we studied the effects of guadecitabine on E0771 tumors in vivo when used in combination with adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with tumor-sensitized T lymphocytes, and we found the combination to be highly effective, with a high cure rate.

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  3D Modeling of Pediatric Hearts with Congenital Defects

  Anthony Gonnella, Chris Schmehil, Uyen Trong, and Scott Gullquist

  3D Modeling of Pediatric Hearts with Congenital Defects

  Anthony Gonnella, Depts. of Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, with Dr. Joao Soares, Depts. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

  Introduction: The anatomic complexity and variability of congenital heart disease (CHD) presents unique challenges in three dimensional visualizations between the multiple specialists that can be involved in surgical planning. Gold standard imaging (conventional 2 dimensional echocardiography) requires each team member mentally integrate multiple images to complete one’s own mental model. We hypothesize that 3D printed models improve preoperative planning and shared team understanding, Materials and Methods: Standard CT and MRI scans were performed on patients at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) as part of their standard of care. Anonymized DICOM files were segmented with 3D Slicer open-source software. Using the threshold by intensity and paintbrush tools, the blood cavities were modeled. Incorrect features in the automated segmentations were manually edited. Subsequently, the myocardium was segmented to obtain wall thickness and a virtual 3D model created. The digital models are then sliced at orientations that best highlighted each congenital defect and converted to an STL file for 3D printing. Results and Discussion: Our method confirms the feasibility of creating patient specific 3D printed models that not only integrated the anatomic complexity of a specific patient but also provide the managing team and the family a conceptually clear picture of the anatomy and a springboard to discuss planned surgery. One of the 3D-printed CHD models was presented at the Pediatric Cardiology Conference and was able to help guide the surgical team to plan and pick the most appropriate surgical procedure (with the highest likelihood of a positive outcome) among several different possibilities. Conclusion: Our 3D-printed models of CHD improved surgical understanding, perspective, and approach in one patient. This potentially improved the outcome of the surgery, reduced the child’s risks, minimized hospital costs, and hopefully eased some of the parent’s concerns. The use of 3D-printed models should be explored in other complex CHDs. In addition, it seems to be an extremely elucidative educational tool for the team.

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  Implementing HSR Infrastructure In The United States To Improve Sustainable Development

  Martin Gonzalez

  Implementing HSR Infrastructure In The United States To Improve Sustainable Development

  Martin Gonzalez, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Sierra Beecher, Dept. of Biology

  The United States has a need to improve sustainable development, which impacts the economy, society, and environment. High speed rail (HSR) funding and infrastructure can help the United States become much more sustainable within cities and surrounding areas. However, the United States has been trailing behind other countries when it comes to supporting HSRs. (Chakrabarti and Foster, 2013) The funding appropriated to mass transit systems have been disproportionately allocated to other mass transportation infrastructures and maintenance; and particularly under funding to HSRs (Chakrabarti and Foster, 2013). Since there is a lack of interest in having HSRs in the United States, the research conducted is used to highlight the importance and benefits of having HSRs. Most studies that have been conducted in other countries explained the benefits from HSRs that impacted capital gain, societal statuses, or environmental factors; however, they never focused on all three sustainable development factors at the same time. The conclusions from the articles state that HSRs have produced overall improved capital gain to cities and nearby towns. (Bracaglia et al., 2020, Yang et al., 2019) They also have much less land use and CO2 emission, when compared to other mass transit systems; and have provided transportation convenience to surrounding areas outside the cities (D’Alfonso et al., 2016, Herala, 2003, Robertson 2016). With these findings the United States can implement either an HSR infrastructure program in the east coast or set up an agency that can oversee the infrastructure and maintenance of HSRs to confidently boost sustainable development benefits.

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  Language Skills of Children and Youth with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

  Laura Griffith

  Language Skills of Children and Youth with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

  Laura Griffith, Depts. of Psychology, Criminal Justice, & History, with Dr. Jason Chow, VCU School of Education

  Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder that remains difficult to understand. Since the presentation of the disorder can vary widely from person to person, there is much debate about the exact nature and cause of the disorder. Some researchers and clinicians prioritize certain symptoms above others, leading to multiple viewpoints on exactly what type of disorder schizophrenia is. In spite of these differences, one commonality among many researchers is the hope to find answers and possibly interventions and treatments by studying the prodromal phase of the disease. Additionally, there has been growing interest in childhood-onset schizophrenia, which does not always receive as much attention as its more common adult-onset counterpart. Cognitive deficits, including problems with language development, appear to be common among youths at clinical high risk (CHR) for or diagnosed with schizophrenia. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the language skills of children with childhood-onset schizophrenia or children who are CHR. The present systematic review and meta-analysis included quantitative studies that report language skills of either childhood-onset schizophrenia patients or CHR participants under the age of 18. We included studies that reported data from expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language assessments. We excluded studies if the participant samples included individuals with comorbid disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder. We obtained articles from an iterative search process of PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and PsycINFO databases. We used random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the average core language scores of early-onset schizophrenia and CHR children and youth. We applied robust-variance estimation to account for within-study dependency. We also explored the extent that child-level factors as well as type of language measure predicted language scores. After a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature, the present study includes data from 23reports. Preliminary analyses suggest that language scores in this sample are significantly lower than typical children. The broader goal of this meta-analysis is to determine the patterns of language development in CHR children and children with schizophrenia, as well as to determine if any language disorders could be predictive of patient prognosis. Identifying risk factors and early warning signs of schizophrenia is crucial to providing the most effective treatment possible. Also, understanding common cognitive symptoms in children who have already been diagnosed can help clinicians to create more tailored treatment plans to alleviate all aspects of the disorder.

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  The Eco-Martyrs of 2018 and Maslow: Is Self-Actualization Only for Colonizers?

  Johanna Guz-Montgomery, Ian McFadden, Victoria Bee, Ashley Sanico, William Purrington, Christopher Latourrette, Rachel Creed, Kelly Rios-Santos, and Alan Lankford

  The Eco-Martyrs of 2018 and Maslow: Is Self-Actualization Only for Colonizers?

  Johanna Guz-Montgomery, Dept. of Psychology, Ian McFadden, Victoria Bee, Ashley Sanico, William Purrington, Christopher Latourrette, Rachel Creed, Kelly Rios-Santos, and Alan Lankford, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology

  Every year the Global Witness organization complies and releases a list of forest, earth, water and animal protectors who have been murdered while defending the earth and people. There have been about 2000 “eco-martyrs” since 2002. Most of these persons are farmers, indigenous people, nature lovers or in other words--ordinary people. In their efforts to stop projects that would lead to further environmental destructive and increased climate change, these persons have stood up to governments, militaries, corporations which have attempted to intimidate them. Most of our ‘eco-martyrs’ had been previously threatened with violence and murder. Many have sought protection from authorities, although almost none have received any and if they did it was clearly ineffective. Our undergraduate research group lead by Dr. Richard Bargdill has constructed short summaries on each of the 2000 names over the last 3 years. We have been humbled by the courage and tenacity of this group of people who in the end represent the best that humanity has to offer. Yet, we noticed that according to our understanding of the Hierarchy of Needs put forth by Maslow that many of these eco-martyrs would not qualify as self-actualized since most live in nations that do not provide the lower needs. Last year we found exemplary cases from our eco-martyrs where from their brief biographies we could be certain that they exhibited at least one of the 16 qualities and did that for 16 cases. At a poster session we were approached by Maslow scholar Andrew Bland and given the suggestion that our understanding of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was not complete. For this year’s presentation we would like to both address Dr. Bland’s constructive criticism and also share 16 eco-martyrs stories all of which were murdered in the 2018.

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  Pelvic Binding Protocols in EMS

  Tarek Haggy

  Pelvic Binding Protocols in EMS

  Tarek Haggy, Depts. of Science and Chemistry, with Dr. Susan Bodnar-Deren, Dept of Sociology

  Background: Pelvic fractures are typically a result of high energy collisions, such as motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). For this reason, pelvic trauma is usually accompanied by a myriad of other injuries. Due to the potentially fatal nature of the injury, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are often the first to administer treatment to patients with suspected pelvic fractures. While difficult to make a proper diagnosis in the field, it is essential to properly stabilize the pelvis whenever a fracture is suspected. Objectives: We suspect that there may be a deficit between regional pelvic immobilization protocols and perceived EMS provider competency in pelvic binding. This study aims to identify if there is an inherent lack of training/emphasis on current prehospital pelvic binding techniques. Methods: A survey will be sent out to prehospital providers in Virginia to gauge perceived competency in pelvic binding and prior training in the technique. Questions will address provider experience, EMS locality, confidence level, and the level of training exposure. Expected Results: We are expecting a lack of emphasis on formal pelvic immobilization training among prehospital providers, especially in EMT-Basics. However, we believe some providers will feel confident in this skill simply due to the deceiving simplicity of pelvic binder application. That said, we expect that EMS providers with extensive experience, training beyond a basic EMT course, or those that practice in more rural localities will have had greater training and exposure to proper pelvic binding technique.

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  Characterizing e-cigarette Use among Virginia Middle and High School Youth Using Confiscated Products

  Sohee Ha, Cindy Miranda, and Alisha Eversole

  Characterizing e-cigarette Use among Virginia Middle and High School Youth Using Confiscated Products

  Sohee Ha, Dept. of Psychology, Cindy Miranda, Dept. of Psychology, & Alisha Eversole, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Caroline O. Cobb, Dept. of Psychology

  Introduction: There has been heightened research interest on JUUL use among youth, but less information is available on the use of other electronic cigarette (e-cig) brands, like NJOY or Smok. Other than self-report, methods such as collection of confiscated e-cigs may provide an unbiased estimate of youth e-cig use behavior. This study aims to characterize e-cig use using confiscated products among middle and high school youth to inform prevention and intervention efforts. Methods: Confiscated e-cig products (N=62) were collected from Central Virginia public school districts during September 2019 - December 2019. Products were placed in a ziplock bag with a form completed by school personnel that included date, grade level, and possible side effects. Form details, product characteristics, and presence of tampering were recorded using a standardized instrument and double-data entry method. Data was analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics with SPSS V26. Results: E-cig device + liquid reservoir (i.e., a pod) comprised a majority of products confiscated (77.4%) followed by e-cig liquid only (17.7%) and e-cig device only (4.8%). The top two brands were NJOY Ace (40.3%) and JUUL (24.2%). Grades with the most confiscated products were 11th (30.6%), 8th (19.4%), and 9th (17.7%). Suspected tampering was present in about one-third of products. Middle school students (MSS; grades 6-8; n=15) preferred JUUL (n=8, 53%) while high school students (HSS; grades 9-12; n=39) preferred NJOY Ace (n=20, 51%). Blueberry and watermelon twist NJOY Ace flavors were common among HSS. Discussion: Pod mod brands other than JUUL were common among confiscated products. HSS appeared to prefer fruit flavored NJOY Ace pods, while MSS used JUUL (only available in tobacco/menthol flavor during data collection). HSS may prefer NJOY Ace due to available flavors, more mL per pod, and lower cost. Findings emphasize the need for greater restrictions and youth access controls for e-cigs. Current policies for age and pod mod flavors may not be sufficient to deter youth use.

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  Storytelling Through Play

  Allison Heerwagen

  Storytelling Through Play

  Allison Heerwagen, Depts. of Graphic Design and Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard K. Means, Dept. of Anthropology

  As children interpret and build on narratives with their own imagination, storytelling as a cultural practice involves even the youngest of a community. Children raised with folktales, myths, legends, and more can bring the stories to life through play inspired by the characters, setting, and stories shared with them. The most accessible tools for children to share and build stories are toys that can be used to interpret the beliefs, practices, and imagination of their culture. In addition, many children’s toys are objects that serve as a reflection and translation of their culture’s written and oral history. In this way, toys can be intrinsically tied to narratives–fiction or nonfiction, fantasy or rooted in reality–that play out during specific historical events and cultural environments. The way children play, and what they play with, shows how they are able to reinterpret and communicate their everyday experiences. Combined with imaginative creation and fantasy, children contribute to the narrative through their lens.

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  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao and Maria Ribera

  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao, Depts. of Psychology and Spanish, and Maria Ribera, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology

  The aim of this poster will be to describe autoethnographic research evaluating the benefits of a daily personal growth practice. For the past four years Dr. Richard Bargdill has taken a reading from one of the 81 chapters of the Tao de Ching as well as a reading from one of the 64 I-Ching excerpts daily. In addition, he writes his own commentary for each chapter of the Tao and a comparative American idiom for each I-Ching reading. The numbers corresponding to each excerpt pulled have all been recorded in an excel file to be examined for numerical trends. This personal growth research has provided us with both qualitative and quantitative data to analyze for the purpose of sharing the transformational power of daily meditative practice.

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  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday and Deborah Howton

  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Amanda Dickinson, Dept. of Biology

  Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides that are found in many household items such as pet flea medication. Pyrethroids are used more so than organophosphate pesticides due to increasing concerns about non-target effects. However, there is some concern with pyrethroid exposure resulting in teratogenic effects including craniofacial defects. Using a Xenopus model, three pesticides (AMDRO Quick Kill, Pyrethrum, and Cypermethrin) were tested for their effect on craniofacial development. Following AMDRO treatment, embryos developed edemas, abnormal gut development, and shorter distances between eyes. Cypermethrin exposure caused a decrease in face width of embryos. Immunohistochemistry colorimetric staining in AMDRO treated embryos resulted in a significant decrease (p-value = 3.644 x 10-6) in mitotic cells of the face. Preliminary data from acridine orange treatment of embryos exposed to pesticide suggests a link to cell death programs. Delta-delta Ct analysis of p53 expression in embryos treated with AMDRO yielded values of 0.371130893, 0.143587294, and 12.46663327. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in pyrethrum treated embryos yielded values of 1.310393, 1.347234, 8.282119, and 1.681793. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in Cypermethrin treated embryos yielded a value of 1.26575659. All treatments yielded an average increase in p53 expression compared to expression levels in control embryos. This indicates that the mechanism through which pyrethroid insecticides work may involve apoptosis and the transcription of the p53 gene.

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  Exploration of the Neuronal Subtype Specificity of an Ethanol Responsive Gene: Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b)

  Dalton Huey, A van der Vaart, G M. Harris, and M F. MIles

  Exploration of the Neuronal Subtype Specificity of an Ethanol Responsive Gene: Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b)

  Dalton Huey, Depts. of Bioinformatics, Biology & Chemistry, A. van der Vaart, G. M. Harris, and M. F. Miles, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  Previous work done in our laboratory revealed that Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b) functions as a hub gene in a network of genes regulated by acute ethanol in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) across a mouse genetic panel. Adult mice treated with acute ethanol showed increased phosphorylation of GSK3B on the Ser9 residue in prefrontal cortex. Subsequent viral-mediated overexpression of Gsk3bin mouse mPFC caused an increase in ethanol consumption and pharmacological inhibition of GSK3B decreased ethanol consumption. However, it is unknown what neuron subtypes are driving this change in behavior. Here, we provide evidence that deletion of Gsk3bin Camk2a+ glutamatergic neurons of the mPFC results in a decrease in ethanol consumption in both continuous and intermittent access drinking paradigms. Furthermore, we have recently designed and validated a plasmid for Cre-dependent overexpression of Gsk3b, along with a Cre-dependent reporter as a control. These plasmids are planned for use in conjunction with different Cre drivers for viral-mediated expression in any cell type. Dissection of the neural circuitry of this ethanol responsive pathway can lead to a better assessment of Gsk3bas a potential target for the treatment of alcohol use disorders. Work supported by grants R01A027581 and P50AA022537 to MFM.

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  Mapping New Olfactory Bulb Neurons at the Single-Cell Level Using Iron Oxide- Assisted MRI

  Sarah Izabel

  Mapping New Olfactory Bulb Neurons at the Single-Cell Level Using Iron Oxide- Assisted MRI

  Sarah Izabel, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Jeffrey Dupree, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology

  Neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult mammalian brains persists throughout life. Precursor cells that are continuously born in the SVZ migrate long-distance to the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into specific neurons. The distribution of new neurons in the OB has been studied via histological and intravital techniques, which are limited longitudinally and in depth of imaging. In the past decade, in vivo studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown the possibility of detecting single cells and tracking new neurons in the OB, where precursor cells can be labelled using iron oxide. In this study, neural progenitor cells in the SVZ were labeled using micro-sized iron oxide particles (MPIOs) and their migration to the OB was detected with MRI. MPIO was confirmed to be present in new neurons via immunohistochemistry and MRI signals were overlapped with MPIOs showing that MPIO-generated MRI contrast can be used to detect single neuronal cells in the OB.

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  The Effect of Amitriptyline on Biomarkers Associated with Brain Health and Drug Metabolism

  Ashana Jackson, Bukola Odeniyi, and Omar Hassan

  The Effect of Amitriptyline on Biomarkers Associated with Brain Health and Drug Metabolism

  Ashana Jackson, Dept. of Psychology, Bukola Odeniyi, and Omar Hassan, with Dr. Elvin T. Price, VCU School of Pharmacy

  High anticholinergic drugs, like amitriptyline have been linked to dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic use of high doses of amitriptyline can lead to a decrease in brain capabilities and even negative effects on short-term memory. Expression of different brain biomarkers are also linked to various cognitive decline: Decreased expressions of PPARG and CREB1 have been correlated with a decrease in the brain’s ability to protect against aging, and impaired spatial memory, respectively. Increased expression of CACNA1C has been negatively correlated with short term object recognition. Therefore, the study examined the effect of amitriptyline on brain biomarkers: CACNA1C, CREB1, and PPARG. Human astrocytes were grown and separated into three 6-well sample plates. Cell treatment groups were: ILB, Amitriptyline 50M, Amitriptyline 220M, ILB + Amitriptyline 50M and ILB + Amitriptyline 220M. The mRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR. The data was analyzed by graph pad prism and ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparison’s test.After exposure of astrocytes to both concentrations of amitriptyline, there was increased expression of the CANA1C and decreased PPARG. Exposure to 220M amitriptyline lead to decreased expression of CREB1, but amitriptyline at 50M lead to an increase in expression. Findings indicated that amitriptyline significantly increased expression and decreased expression of PPARG. Though, different concentrations had varying effects on CREB1. These results indicate that the cognitive decline linked to amitriptyline are likely the effects that this drug has on these genes.

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  Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities

  Ammar Jawad

  Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities

  Ammar Jawad, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  The 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 2A receptor, 5-HT2A, is a G protein-coupled receptor that belongs to a subtype of receptors known as serotonergic receptors. The 5-HT2A receptor plays a wide variety of roles that are pivotal in the optimal functionality of the brain, such as mediating the neurological, visual, and auditory pathways of the central nervous system. Typical agonists of the 5-HT2A receptor include psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Psychedelic drugs in particular have been a means for many artists and musicians to further enhance their creativity, leading to a subgenre of music and instrumentation known as psychedelic music, or psychedelia. Typically, psychedelic music is characterized by feelings of depersonalization and derealization, and artists who’ve experimented with drugs such as LSD and psilocybin claim to have an expanded imagination, along with a heightened sense of creativity and mesmerism. The research presented in this study explores the overlap between music and psychedelic drugs, namely LSD and psilocybin, and how the 5-HT2A receptor engages and mediates the neurological as well as the biological effects of these substances. This study has concluded that further research is necessary to explore the possibility of activating the 5-HT2A receptors with substances that do not carry the harmful effects that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin do.

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  Mental Health Comorbidities in Adolescents with ASD: Indirect Effects of Family Functioning through Youth Social Competence

  Marie Johnson, Jessica Greenlee, and Cathryn Richmond

  Mental Health Comorbidities in Adolescents with ASD: Indirect Effects of Family Functioning through Youth Social Competence

  Marie Johnson, Depts. of Psychology and Product Innovation, and Jessica Greenlee and Cathryn Richmond, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Marcia Winter, Dept. of Psychology

  Recent research has established the high comorbidities of mental health problems in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; see Strang, et al., 2012), prompting researchers to examine factors that may contribute to elevated anxiety and depression. Given the centrality during adolescence of both the family and peer contexts (Greenlee, Winter, & Diehl, 2018) as well as the stage salience of peer relationships (Masten et al., 1995), this study focused on family functioning, social competence, and mental health in verbally-fluent adolescents with ASD. Some have suggested that adolescents with ASD who have no cognitive impairment are more interested in social interaction but also more aware of their social differences (Mazurek & Kanne, 2010). Combined with the social demands of adolescence, increased social awareness may put youth at risk for disengaging from peers; poor peer relationships, feelings of isolation, and loneliness have been associated with internalizing problems in youth with ASD (Bauminger & Kasari, 2000; Vickerstaff et al., 2007; Whitehouse et al., 2009). We reasoned that adolescents learn social skills in part from family experiences, even in the context of ASD, and that the family environment plays a role in adolescent’s social competence. Thus, while social-communication deficits are an inherent part of an ASD diagnosis, families still play a role in adolescents’ social competencies and influence their social development. Therefore, we tested part of the larger theoretical model by examining the indirect relationship between family functioning and adolescent anxiety and depression symptomatology via adolescent social competence for adolescents with ASD.

  This study uses data from the Teens and Parents (TAP) Study (see Greenlee, 2019). Participants were adolescents aged 13-17 (N = 178; Mage= 14.92, SD = 1.31; 73% male) diagnosed with ASD, and their primary caregivers (PCs) who all identified as biological or adoptive mothers. PCs reported demographics and completed (1) the Self-Report of Family Inventory (SFI; Beavers & Hampston, 2000) to assess global family functioning via the Health and Competence subscale, and (2) the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; Constantino & Gruber, 2012) to assess deficits in adolescent social competencies. Adolescents reported their own depression and anxiety symptoms via the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale-Short Version (RCADS; Ebesutani et al., 2012).

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the indirect pathway from family functioning to social competence deficits and in turn to internalizing symptoms was statistically significant for adolescent anxiety (B= -1.015, SE = 0.394, 95% CI = [-1.893, -0.353]) and depression symptoms (B= -0.513, SE = 0.192, 95% CI = [-0.938, -0.189]) over and above the effects of family SES and adolescent age, sex, and restrictive and repetitive behavior. It was proposed that family functioning would play a role in adolescent mental health symptomatology via the mediating effect of social competence. Results support this hypothesis, indicating the importance of family functioning in youth social competence, and the subsequent effects on adolescent mental health. These results contribute to the understanding of mental health comorbidities in adolescents with ASD and could be used to inform future interventions.

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  The Moderating Role of Body Appreciation on Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Intentions

  Breanna Jones, Noelle Manfredi, and Calvin Hall

  The Moderating Role of Body Appreciation on Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Intentions

  Breanna Jones, Depts. of Psychology and Sociology, Noelle Manfredi, and Calvin Hall, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Kristina Hood, Dept. of Psychology

  Scholars have long explored the influence of ethnic identity affirmation, or feelings of belonging to one’s ethnic group (Phinney, 1990), on sexual health outcomes (e.g., condom use intentions; Beadnell et al., 2003). Higher ethnic identity safeguards against risky sexual behaviors (Townsend et al., 2010), such that those with higher ethnic identity affirmation reported less risky sexual behaviors. However, limited research has explored how personal factors, such as positive body image (i.e., body appreciation), may influence the relationship between ethnic identity and sexual risk behaviors. Previous research found that women with higher body appreciation tend to report greater condom use self-efficacy (Grower & Ward, 2018). Furthermore, findings suggest that body appreciation and ethnic identity affirmation are positively associated (Cotter et al., 2013), such that those with higher body appreciation reported greater ethnic identity affirmation. However, body appreciation, ethnic identity affirmation, and condom use intentions have not been studied together. Responsively, the current study aimed to examine the role of body appreciation on the relationship between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions in a sample of Black and Latinx women. This study was guided by the theory of plan behavior (Ajzen, 1985; Townsend et al., 2006)), which asserts that one’s behavioral intentions (e.g., condom use intentions) are tied to social norms and their attitudes about themselves and others. We hypothesized that body appreciation would moderate the link between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions. The current sample consisted of 148 heterosexual Black (n= 81) and Latinx women (n= 67), ages 18 to 60 (M= 30.78, SD= 7.65), who were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk.

  The Hayes PROCESS (2017) regression-based tool was used to examine whether body appreciation moderated the relationship between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions after controlling for age and relationship status. Results suggest an interaction between ethnic identity affirmation and body appreciation on future condom use intentions, B(SE)= -.11(0.06), ΔR2= .02, p= 0.05. To interpret the statistically significant moderation effect, Hayes’s (2017) PROCESS v.3 Johnson-Neyman analysis was used. For Black and Latinx women with lower body appreciation, ethnic identity affirmation did not influence condom use scores, b(SE)= -7.20 (.05), 95% CI[-.17, 0.28], p= 0.16. However, for Black and Latinx women with higher body appreciation, those with lower ethnic identity affirmation had greater condom use intentions than those with higher ethnic identity affirmation, b(SE)= 0.84(.90) 95% CI[-.40, -0.52], p= 0.01. That is, among participants who appreciate their bodies, those who felt less belonging to their ethnic group endorsed greater intentions to use condoms in the future compared to those who felt greater belonging to their ethnic group. Findings suggest that, the influence of body appreciation differs based on one’s level of ethnic identity affirmation, which is counterintuitive to literature suggesting that low ethnic identity is associated with worse sexual health outcomes (e.g., Espinosa-Hernandez & Lefkowitz, 2009). For that reason, more research is needed to replicate the current findings.

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  Does Sexual Orientation Moderate between Partner Substance Use and Alcohol Consumption?

  Jasmine Jones

  Does Sexual Orientation Moderate between Partner Substance Use and Alcohol Consumption?

  Jasmine Jones, Depts. of Psychology and African American Studies, with Dr. Jessica Salvatore, Dept. of Psychology

  Being with an antisocial partner can be challenging in various ways. Prior research suggests that involvement with an antisocial partner is associated with higher levels of substance use (Fleming, White, and Catalano 2010). Having a minority sexual orientation can also influence one’s own substance use. Prior research shows that individuals who identify as a sexual minority report higher levels of substance use compared to those who identify as heterosexual (Hughes, Wilsnack, Kantor 2016). Despite the robust associations between partner antisocial behavior, alcohol consumption, and sexual orientation there is little research looking at whether the association between having an antisocial partner and alcohol consumption differs as a function of sexual orientation. The aim for this study was to examine whether the association between a partner’s antisocial behavior and alcohol use differs as a function of sexual orientation. Participants came from “Spit for Science,” a university research opportunity for any freshman that would like to participate. Participants (N = 1502, 70.8% female) were invited to participate in surveys during their freshman year and every spring semester after. We used a subset based on participants who reported to be in a relationship during the spring semester of their freshman year. Consistent with prior research and our hypothesis, having a partner with higher substance use is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not find evidence that partner substance use and alcohol consumption differed as a function of sexual orientation. Individuals who are involved with someone who consumes alcohol will consume more alcohol, however, this does not differ as a function of sexual orientation.

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  Trafficking Patterns of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 and Assembly into the Slow Delayed Rectifier (Iks) Channel

  Sukhleen Kaur

  Trafficking Patterns of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 and Assembly into the Slow Delayed Rectifier (Iks) Channel

  Sukhleen Kaur, Depts. of Bioinformatics and Chemistry, with Dr. Gea-Ny Tseng, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics

  KCNQ1 and KCNE1 are both proteins that are essential in maintaining cardiac electrical stability. The assembly of the two units forms the slow delayed rectifier channel (Iks) which plays a role in repolarization of the action potential in adult ventricular myocytes when a shorter action potential is required. Iks remains unassembled under basal conditions as KCNQ1 and KCNE1 are segregated. While KCNQ1 is a pore-forming subunit, KCNE1 is a smaller, auxiliary subunit. The assembly of both subunits is essential in forming Iks, for they do not function when they are present as separate, individual units. In other words, the two units are mutually inclusive, yet they both have very different properties, especially in reference to the trafficking phenomenon of each protein following translation. The question being addressed, therefore, was “how do KCNQ1 and KCNE1 assemble to form Iks channels in COS-7 cells and adult ventricular myocytes?” Confocal imaging experiments were conducted to visualize the movement of fluorescent protein-tagged KCNQ1 and KCNE1 COS-7 cells at fixed time points. The RUSH (retention using selective hooks) construct was utilized to analyze the proteins after they had exited the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Biotinylation experiments were furthermore conducted in order to quantify cell surface KCNQ1 and KCNE1. Lastly, more imaging experiments were conducted, this time using adenovirus-mediated expression in cardiomyocytes, to address the research question. The results of the experiments showed KCNQ1-GFP traveled largely in the ER network and budded out into vesicles which then fused with the cell membrane. On the other hand, KCNE1-dsRed traveled largely in vesicles throughout the cytoplasm. Through the limited results of the experiments, it was concluded that KCNQ1 and KCNE1 traffic separately and in different manners to the plasma membrane and assemble into the slow-delayed rectifier channel on the cell surface.

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  Stakeholder Perceptions of Health Needs in Refugee Populations in the Greater Richmond Area

  Ashley Koo, Matt Tessama, Tatiana Brown, and Jay Lawson

  Stakeholder Perceptions of Health Needs in Refugee Populations in the Greater Richmond Area

  Ashley Koo, Depts. of Medical Anthropology and Chemistry, Matt Tessama, and Tatiana Brown, with Dr. Dina Garcia, Dept. of Health Behavior and Policy

  A refugee is a person outside of the country of his or her nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on her race, religion, nationality, or membership in a certain social group. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees estimates that in 2018, approximately 22,500 refugees were resettled in the U.S. with 1,805 arrived in Virginia. Many of these refugees face multiple health challenges post-resettlement, particularly in oral health. Although these oral health needs are a recognized concern, there is very little information to support what the specific facilitators and barriers to dental care access is for this population. The long-term objective of this study is to identify the largest gaps in healthcare access for refugee populations, and plan an intervention to bridge these gaps through local clinics. The health and oral health needs of refugees post-resettlement can be determined through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with health liaisons. The participants will be recruited from a list of organizations involved in refugee resettlement and employment, including the Virginia Department of Health, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, ReEstablish Richmond and the International Rescue Committee. The interviews will allow stakeholders to share their experience serving the refugee community, their perspective on health needs that are present in this population and ideas on how to address these needs. The interviews will be audiotaped and then transcribed via research participants and stored in the password-protected MAXQDA software. There exists a link between dental/ oral health and overall health: untreated dental cavities can lead to cardiovascular issues and can be fatal. Intervention within the community is needed to increase healthcare access; analyzing stakeholder perspectives will allow greater understanding of what inequities exist for refugee populations in the Greater Richmond area.

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  To Read or Not to Read; That is the Question

  Christopher Latourrette and Morgan Haas

  To Read or Not to Read; That is the Question

  Christopher Latourrette, Depts. of Psychology and Sociology, and Morgan Haas, with Dr. Jeffrey Green, Dept. of Psychology

  Do regular leisure readers have a different psychological profile from non-readers? We investigated whether particular positive psychological traits (i.e., greater subjective well-being, self-esteem, meaning in life, and lower loneliness) and leisure motivational variables (i.e., intellectual pursuits or distraction source) would distinguish undergraduate readers from non-readers. In support of a larger ongoing research study exploring the psychological benefits of reading and re-reading novels, we conducted a k-means cluster analysis followed by an analysis of variance to determine the clustering group membership that exists based on various psychological trait measures and motivational factors, and the subsequent effect of the clusters on reading frequency. People with higher positive personality traits, specifically subjective well-being and presence of meaning in life, are more motivated to read leisurely for intellectual gains and as a source of distraction read significantly more often, compared to people with less positive personality traits or who are unmotivated to read for intellectual gains and a source of distraction.

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  Transit Manipulation by the Koch Brothers: Analyzing the Relationship between the Division of Power in the United States Government, Societal Benefits, Voter and Rider Composition, Referendum Language and Cost of Improvement Under the Lens of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum

  Samantha Lee

  Transit Manipulation by the Koch Brothers: Analyzing the Relationship between the Division of Power in the United States Government, Societal Benefits, Voter and Rider Composition, Referendum Language and Cost of Improvement Under the Lens of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum

  Samantha Lee, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  In Nashville, Tennessee, Charles and David Koch, known as the Koch Brothers, manipulated these areas--the division of power in the United States government, change in leadership, societal benefits, voter and rider composition, referendum language and cost of the improvement--in order to turn what was initially positive voter feedback into a roadblock for the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum, even though many voters would have benefitted from such a system. The federal government focuses on the united country whereas the state governments account solely for their respective interests, causing projects in states that received the majority of the funding for the 2010 national high-speed rail to fail since they misrepresented the expectations of the people, alluding to the systemic bias in funding against public transportation in comparison to automobiles. The voter and rider composition of Nashville, specifically the $49,391 median household income contributed to failure of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum as the project was neither affordable nor relevant for voting residents, exemplified by the election results. Pro-public transportation voting Americans support public transit because of social benefits: reduction of congestion, cleaner environment, aid for the poor and socially excluded, revitalization of cities, and job creation, resulting in limited in-support votes and ridership, reflecting the greater influence of self-interest on voters, especially when taxes are involved. The referendum language and estimated $5.4 billion project cost prompted the Nashville voters to become dissuaded because of their socioeconomic status, supported by their unwillingness to pay. Understanding the failure of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum was a result of the Nashville’s societal and economic conditions that were exploited by conservative political groups, such as Americans for Prosperity, one can apply such knowledge to future transportation referendums and mirror or counteract the Koch Brothers’ actions to prompt successful passage.

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  Academic Socialization and Its Effects on Academic Success

  David Lim and Maria Cisneros-Elias

  Academic Socialization and Its Effects on Academic Success

  David Lim, Dept. of Psychology and Maria J. Cisneros-Elias, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Chelsea D. Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  Academic socialization in education is how parents use their own educational beliefs and expectations to provide messages to their children to help navigate or influence their academic success and development (Hill & Tyson, 2009). There is currently very little research done on academic socialization, and recent studies have just started addressing the lack of research on this subject. This narrative review focuses on parental academic socialization, to understand the influence it has on their child’s academic endeavors. Eight peer-reviewed articles on academic socialization were found from Psychinfo for this narrative review. This scoping review explores the literature related specifically to academic socialization to better understand how much of an impact it has on outcomes among different age groups of children, ranging from elementary, middle, and high school. Results of the studies reviewed show that there are positive influences of parental academic socialization such as, increased socio-emotional competencies among kindergarten students (Puccioni et al, 2019) and academic achievement especially among high school students (Hill & Tyson, 2009). Implications to further research academic socialization will be discussed.

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  How the Diversity of Curriculum Prepares Future Physician Assistants (PA's) to Provide Healthcare for Underserved Populations

  Jessica Lim-Wilson

  How the Diversity of Curriculum Prepares Future Physician Assistants (PA's) to Provide Healthcare for Underserved Populations

  Jessica Lim-Wilson, Depts. of Health, Physical Education & Exercise Science and Psychology, with Dr. Christine Booker, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

  This research project was conducted to explore the availability of the diverse curriculum in Physician Assistant programs by region as well as the scope of PA responsibility across the United States. Using the information collected, the association between Physician Assistant curriculum and underserved population health outcomes by region was examined. In conclusion, this research has assisted in understanding the relationship between PA education and health outcomes.

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  Autobiographical Storytelling in English Language Arts Instruction: Fostering Literacy and Social Emotional Development in the Elementary English Language Learner Classroom

  Elysia Lin

  Autobiographical Storytelling in English Language Arts Instruction: Fostering Literacy and Social Emotional Development in the Elementary English Language Learner Classroom

  Elysia Lin, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  Given the changing cultural and linguistic profile of the United States classroom, culturally relevant teaching strategies that address individual learning needs and establish meaningful learning contexts have become increasingly important for student success. The integration of autobiographical student narratives into traditional English language instruction via storytelling represents a promising area of educational research. The present study sought to investigate the extent to which storytelling facilitates inclusivity, fosters positive social-emotional development, enhances engagement, and contributes to gains in academic performance of elementary-aged English language learner (ELL) students. In a comprehensive literature review, this study explored storytelling in relation to classroom demographic profiles, literacy development, dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and mechanisms of student engagement and motivation. Storytelling in promoting language achievement and social-emotional development was evaluated through the lens of Gardner’s social educational model of second language acquisition. Research found that fewer opportunities for open dialogue within diverse classrooms contribute to negative cultural stereotypes. Storytelling supports the social-emotional development of students by broadening cultural attitudes and affirming both peer-to-peer and student-teacher relationships. Storytelling, compared to traditional instruction, better incorporates multimodal literacy skills into language. Additionally, storytelling increases student engagement by creating a meaningful learning context, which in turn heightens motivation and mediates positive academic outcomes. Four guidelines for storytelling-based language instruction in diverse classrooms emerged: (1) acknowledgement and acceptance of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, (2) legitimization of student experience and student voice, (3) implementation of scaffolding techniques by teacher-storytellers, and (4) support of active student roles in learning.

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  The Use of Physician Assistants for Health and Wellness in Aging Populations

  Desiree Longmire

  The Use of Physician Assistants for Health and Wellness in Aging Populations

  Desiree Longmire, Depts. of Kinesiology and Health Science, Biology, & Chemistry, with Dr. Christine Booker, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Science

  I conducted a study to expand my research on the demographics of Physician Assistant (PA) programs and how the programs can benefit from having Gerontology in their curriculum. I was able to record data on an excel spreadsheet on the demographics and pass rate scores of PA program graduates. This data was used to assess if PA programs have Gerontology in their curriculum as separate courses. Also, the data was used to determine if there is a correlation of pass rates of PA programs with more diverse students in specific geographical regions that serve aging populations. This information helps fill the gap in the literature by ascertaining the significance of the use of more diverse PA’s in the health care industry and their ability to impact care for the health and wellness of the aging population.